250th Rafale ejection seat produced by Safran/Martin Baker joint venture, SEMMB

Paris, January 19, 2016

SEMMB (Société d?Exploitation des Matériels Martin Baker), a 50/50 joint company of Safran (France) and Martin-Baker Aircraft (UK), has produced its 250th MKF16F ejection seat for the Rafale multirole fighter.

With about 50 employees, SEMMB designs, develops, produces and supports ejection seats for all French-designed combat aircraft, deployed by over 30 air forces worldwide. 

SEMMB ejection seats have saved the lives of 698 pilots since production started in 1961. A total of 5,700 seats have been produced to date, including 250 for the Rafale, 1,470 for the Mirage 2000, 47 for the Super Etendard and 220 for the Alpha Jet military trainer. 

SEMMB now delivers about 20 seats per year, or an average of over 1.5 per month. Because of recent Rafale export contracts, already signed or being finalized, the production rate could rise to four seats/month starting in 2017.

SEMMB also services 100 to 130 ejection seats a year. Seats are refurbished every two years after entering service, then undergo a general overhaul every six years.